KUALA LUMPUR, April 19 - A large fire swept through a coastal community in Sabah's Sandakan district in the early hours of Sunday, destroying around 200 houses and displacing hundreds, state media reported.
Officials were alerted to the blaze at approximately 1.32 a.m. (1732 GMT), the district's fire and rescue chief, Jimmy Lagung, was quoted as saying. He attributed the rapid spread of the flames to a combination of strong winds and the close proximity of the dwellings.
"Strong winds and the close proximity of the houses caused the fire to spread rapidly, while low tide conditions also made it difficult to obtain an open water source," Lagung said.
The fire erupted in one of Sabah's so-called water villages - coastal settlements where wooden houses are built on stilts over the water. These villages are home to some of Malaysia's most economically vulnerable communities and include many stateless and indigenous residents.
Bernama cited provisional figures from a temporary relief centre in Sandakan indicating that roughly 445 people have been displaced so far. The figure reflects people who have registered at that centre and was described as unofficial.
Malaysia's Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, said the federal government is coordinating with Sabah authorities to provide basic assistance and temporary relocation for those affected. In a Facebook post, the prime minister emphasized immediate safety and relief efforts.
"The priority now is the safety of the victims and immediate assistance on the ground," he said.
Local fire officials highlighted operational challenges during the response, noting in particular that low tide limited access to open water sources that might otherwise have been used to fight the flames. The structural characteristics of the water village - wooden stilt houses situated close together - were identified as contributing to how quickly the fire moved through the community.
Relief efforts are underway with federal and Sabah authorities coordinating to deliver urgent support and temporary shelter. Information on longer-term housing solutions, repair needs, and the full scale of damage remains limited to the details provided by authorities and relief centres at this stage.
Location: Sandakan district, Sabah state, Malaysia.
Time reported: Around 1.32 a.m. (1732 GMT) on April 19.
Estimated impact: Approximately 200 homes destroyed; about 445 people registered at a temporary relief centre as displaced.